Inside Pigs
How much pork will Brits eat in 2021?
Despite the lockdown, more pork was sold in the United Kingdom last year than in 2019. The strong growth in retail sales was able to compensate for the missed volumes to the food service. What are the expectations for 2021?
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Figures from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (ADHB) show that British pork sales did not do badly last year despite the corona crisis. Because the catering industry was forced to close its doors due to the lockdown, a shift took place and more pork was consumed at home.
Since March 2020, retail sales have grown monthly and overall sales volumes have increased by 8,3% over the past year. This is approximately 79.000 tons more than in 2019. Sales of sausages and bacon achieved the fastest growth. No less than 23.800 tons and 19.100 tons more were sold. This increase is because more people are eating breakfast and lunch at home.
Sales of pork to the catering industry are estimated to have fallen by 54%. Retail, combined with an increase in takeout and delivery services, has offset these losses. At the end of 2020, pork sales were about 1% higher than in 2019.
Forecast for 2021
The ADHB expects the situation to return to normal in the second half of 2021. It is expected that the lockdown will relax somewhat in the second half of the year and that sales to the catering industry will then increase again. However, a full recovery to 2019 levels is not expected. This is partly because people will probably continue to work partly from home and will have fewer lunches at the office. It is expected that about 2021% less pork will be sold in 2 than last year. Compared to 2019, in which the corona crisis did not yet play a role, the volume will decrease by 1%.